Logo - Feel The Words

Editor Quotes

Every good writer needs a second pair of eyes.

Editor quotes come from writers admitting how much a skilled editor improves their work, often describing the role as a true collaborator. Some speakers connect editing to Editorial judgment beyond just trimming words.

An editor is someone who separates the wheat from the chaff and then prints the chaff.

Quotes by Adlai Stevenson I

My only claim to fame, if I have one, is that I'm an editor.

Quotes by Woody Herman

I tend to overwrite; I need a good editor.

Quotes by Wolf Blitzer

A good novel editor is invisible.

Quotes by Terri Windling

Editing Quotes

In the mid-2000s, I kind of accidentally became a music editor.

Quotes by Steven Price

Movies are an editor's medium.

Quotes by Stephen Root

As an editor, I have to be tactful, of course.

Quotes by Robert Gottlieb

In a highly competitive newspaper market, every editor needs to appeal to female readers to boost their circulation.

Quotes by Rebekah Brooks

My aspiration was always to be a fashion editor.

Quotes by Nina Garcia

Edition Quotes

I'm just loving BlueGriffon Editor! XML, HTML5, CSS, ARIA, SVGEdit all built in.

Quotes by Molly Holzschlag

I first started working in film when I was 17. I was a director's assistant, an editor.

Quotes by Mathieu Amalric

Even when I became the editor of 'Vogue' - America, I kept moonlighting for a garment store.

Quotes by Mary McFadden

I co-founded 'bOING bOING' magazine and the 'Boing Boing Blog' and was an editor at 'Wired' from 1993-1998.

Quotes by Mark Frauenfelder

I had a background in theater as an actor, and then a photographer, and then as an experimental filmmaker and editor.

Quotes by Lynn Shelton

Editorial Quotes

I wanted to be my own editor, and by 'editor,' I mean unedited-or.

Quotes by Leandra Medine

My wife is my in-home editor and reads everything I write.

Quotes by Khaled Hosseini

A very good editor is almost a collaborator.

Quotes by Ken Follett

Dullness is the only crime for which an editor ought to be hung.

Quotes by Josephus Daniels

A literary journal is intended to connect writer with reader; the role of the editor is to mediate.

Quotes by John Barton

Editors Quotes

I probably don't conform to most people's idea of a fashion editor.

Quotes by Joanna Coles

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these editor quotes say about the role?
They describe editors as essential collaborators, with several writers admitting they overwrite and rely on a good editor to sharpen their work.
Is fashion editing mentioned in this collection?
Yes, one speaker describes fashion editing as a long-standing career aspiration.
Do these quotes come from professional editors themselves?
Mostly from writers reflecting on their editors, though one speaker identifies editing as their primary claim to fame.
Is editing described as purely technical here?
No, one quote calls a very good editor almost a collaborator, suggesting the role goes beyond just correcting text.
Where can I find more quotes about the editing process?
See our Editorial page for related reflections.

Others describe editing as a career goal in its own right, from fashion to fiction. Together these quotes make the case that good writing rarely happens alone.